The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES.

AN lMDdhGhDOMbNl OI hlOnI0s
The First Presbyterian Church of Meadville,
Pa, is about to be forced into litigation on
grounds which are probably unparalleled in
ecclesiastical history. Several years ago an
aged citizen of the town died and left to the
church, in trust, the sum Of 800 900, the in
terest Of which was to be used for the benefit
of the poor of the congregation and for ''other
benefcent objects not definitely specified.
The trustees took possession of the money,
but when the question of disbursement of the
interest came up it was solemnly decided that
there were no poor in the church.
Now it sometimes happens-such instances,
in fact, are probably within the knowledge of
every reader Of the Journal-that the 6nan-
cial prosperity of a religious organization be-
comes matter of pride to the membership.
1t is not unfrequently the case also, when
society is known as erich church," the de-
vout poor are not drawn to it in large num-
bers, an apparent doubt existing in their
minds to whether its house is really meant
to be place where, because ''the Lord is the
maker of them ALL" the rich and poor can
meet and worship together on terms of equal
ity.
1t is seldom, however, that people with no
treasures, save those laid up in heaven, give
one of these financially fortunate but frigid
churches SO complete go-by that not one Of
their number is found within its walls gath
ering up the spiritual fragments. The Mead
vile church is, indeed, the only case of the
kind on record, so far as known. The entire
absence of the needy and suffering, in this
instance may possibly be accounted for on
the theory that membership in the organi-
cation insured to its possessor such speedy at
tainment of worldly blessings that penury
became prosperity before charity could be
thought Of This explanation is hardly prob
able, though, in view Of the fact that with
piety at such premium, the portals Of the
house of worship would have been crowded
constantly with prayerful paupers, anxious
to have their temporal aud spiritual
condition bettered by the single and simple
tinual presence of the INDECENT would necess
tate the feeding of the hungry and clothing
of the naked, even though the wants of each
be but temporary. The Meadville church did
not have these people within its doors. The
Master once said to his disciples, ''The poor
we have always with YOU" By what process
of reasoning the brethren in this Pennsylva-
MIA sanctuary considered themselves right
fully exempt from this law, so that only the
rich could address the throne of grace accept
ably from it's comfortable pews, it is difficult
to say. 1t might be thought that after the
discovery of the lack Of poverty among them
the aroused members would, for very
shames sake, have gone into the
highways and byways to search for the poor,
the manned, the lame, the blind, and would
have hidden them to the spiritual feast
which, it must be presumed, was always set
and that after these were gathered il
their bodily wants would be supplied from the
: fund in store Did these snug saints d.
anything Of the sortg Far from it, Having
SIMULTANEOUSLY congratulated themselves on
the fact that the membership included no on,
} save those well-to-do in pocket they cas-
about fof other benevolent purposes to which
the money might be applied To the secula
comprehension it seems self evident PROPOSE
ton that church which includes no destitute
persons within its bounds ought to pa,
its own bills. The First Presbyterian
of Meadville, however, argued different /,
On the principle, doubtless, that charity be
, gins at home, it was decided to apply the in
terest of the aged citizens bequest t
the payment of the pastors salary, t
repairing the church building, and to settlin
! the running expenses in general. The heir
Of the testator regard this application of tn
fund as improper, and are preparing to test tn
matter in the courts, with view to recover
, ing the sum for their own use. Great excite
. ment and indignation prevail in church Gil
cles on account of this proposed action, and
determination is expressed to contest til
claims of the presumptuous heirs to the bite
. end. If, in the course of their jealous invea
legations and search for precedent, th
!; brethren should chance upon certai